Star mathematician Ma Xiao leaves the US for China – and a career pivot to AI

Two years ago, Chinese mathematician Ma Xiao played a key role in solving Hilbert's sixth problem, a century-old puzzle that connects microscopic atoms and fluid motion laws. This breakthrough, published in the Annals of Mathematics, helped Deng Yu earn the 2026 Fields Medal and secured a faculty position for Ma at the University of Michigan.

At 28, Ma made a career pivot to artificial intelligence (AI) and returned to his alma mater, the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) in Hefei. He now holds a joint professorship with USTC's Artificial General Intelligence Institute and the Institute of Geometry and Physics. Ma's decision to focus on AI reflects his belief that the future of mathematical discovery will be automated.

Born in Xinxiang, Henan, Ma developed an early interest in mathematics and began teaching himself university-level calculus in the sixth grade. After graduating from USTC's School of the Gifted Young in 2018, he pursued a doctorate at Princeton University before moving to the University of Michigan for his postdoctoral training.

During his time at Michigan, Ma worked on Hilbert's sixth problem with Deng Yu and Zaher Hani, making significant progress that was later published in the Annals of Mathematics. Ma aims to shift his primary focus towards agents in AI within the next two to three years, having already developed a system called qmd-prover for mathematical proofs.

He emphasizes the importance of proficiency in tools like Codex, Claude Code, and Git for the new generation of mathematicians and scientists.